If Tyronn Lue is cheering for someone Monday night in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals, he’s keeping it close to the vest.
The Cavaliers coach said Monday that it doesn’t matter who comes out of the West, and Cleveland’s focus and execution is far more important.
“Definitely about us,” Lue said Monday, via ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. “But they’re two tough teams. You have Oklahoma, (Russell) Westbrook and (Kevin) Durant — a different guard. Then you have (Stephen) Curry, Draymond (Green) and Klay (Thompson) — a different guard. It’s big on who you are playing as far as personnel, things you have to be locked in on, things you have to take away, things we can’t give up.
“It does play a part, but it’s really more so about us. If we’re on the right page and doing things the right way we’re going to be fine.”
Lue does not have a preference between the two teams.
“We just want the winner,” Lue said. “Just whoever wins. We’re preparing for both and after tonight we will get a chance to see who we finally play.”
Rooting for a preferred opponent is always a dangerous, dangerous game. Lue will be heartened that both teams have gone through stretches of looking quite beatable during the series. Not only that, but the Cavaliers look much more equipped to challenge the winner than they were last year, with even their former coach taking note of how well they played through stretches of the playoffs.
